Haas has warned its rivals that it believes there is even more performance to come from its Formula 1 car over the next few races.

The American outfit has caused a stir this season, scoring points in its first two grands prix and currently lying fifth in the constructors' championship.

But rather than feel it has reached the peak of its potential, team principal Gunther Steiner says a mixture of car development and better understanding of its chassis will help it push on against the opposition.

“We will have developments coming,” he explained. “But I don't know exactly how we commit to them because our strategy first is to find out what we can get out of this car. We still don't know this car, really.

“I think there is more potential in the car that we haven't discovered, and once we have got a stable platform, we will put on developments. But maybe we have got the next race already some developments.”

Not standing still

Although Haas does not have the kind of development budget of its big-money rivals, and depends on Ferrari for much of its car, the team still has scope for improvement.

And Steiner knows that it must keep improving if it is not going to start slipping down the order as the season progresses.

“We are not standing still,” he said. “Will we have developments every race? No, obviously not. But we will not sit still and not do anything, because then you fall back and it is automatic.

“So we will not have as much development as the big teams, but we will be in the ballpark with all the other teams in the midfield.”